New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi said on Sunday that India's GDP figures reaching its highest figure of 5.7 percent in the first quarter of the financial year 2014-15, reflected the NDA government's focus on laying a strong foundation for the Indian economy.Aug 31, 2014

Mumbai/ Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): People in Mumbai and Delhi have welcomed the slashing of petrol prices by Rs 1.82 per liter saying that the move has provided some much needed relief to the common people. Petrol prices were slashed by Rs 1.82 per litre starting Saturday midnight whereas the price of diesel has gone up by 50 paise. This is the third time that the petrol prices have been lowered in this month, attributed to falling price of petrol in international oil market.Aug 31, 2014

Islamabad, Aug 31 (ANI): At least one person has died and hundreds of others have been injured as police in Pakistan clashed with protesters who attempted to march on the prime minister's residence in Islamabad. Pakistan has been gripped by unrest for more than two weeks, with protest leaders Imran Khan and Tahir ul-Qadri saying they will not back back down unless Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns. On Saturday Sharif once again said he would not go. Security forces fired tear gas at protesters on Saturday night and the opposition said a woman was killed in the clashes. Khan addressed protesters on Sunday. Determined protesters, some holding sticks and wearing gas masks, said they would not back down.Aug 31, 2014

Mumbai, Aug 31 (ANI): Two people were injured late after mid night after a speeding car rammed into a school van near the Andheri flyover in Mumbai. An eyewitness said that the accident took place because the driver of school van was moving speedily. Another eyewitness said that the injured in another car have been admitted to the hospital.Aug 31, 2014

New Delhi, August 31 (ANI): Taylor Swift will be joining the seventh season of ' The Voice ' as a season advisor. A source asserted that the 'Shake It Off' singer will serve in the same level that Coldplay singer Chris Martin did in the show's sixth season i.e. to advise contestants across all four teams, a Us Magazine reported. A source said that the 24-year-old singer was an absolute pleasure to work with and the singer had great feedback for all the contestants.Aug 31, 2014

Kyoto, Aug 31 (ANI): The Spokesperson of MEA Syed Akbaruddin on Sunday briefed about the programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second day of Japan visit. Akbaruddin said that Modi visited the temple, research lab institute and met the mayor of Kyoto on the second day of his visit. He added that the first step towards the development of Varanasi has been taken by signing a MoU and that Modi has given the map of historic Benaras to mayor of Kyoto for its development keeping the culture and historicity intact.Aug 31, 2014

Bodh Gaya, Aug 31 (ANI): A meeting was organised in Bihar to discuss preparations for upcoming International Buddhist Conclave to be held in temple town of Bodh Gaya. The conclave will be held between September 26 and September 28 during which around 250 delegates from across the world will participate. The delegates will be taken on a tour in Bodh Gaya and other areas associated with Lord Buddha. The tourism secretary, Girish Shankar, attended a meeting with various officials and representatives of the Buddhist community to look into preparations at central hall.Aug 31, 2014

Kyoto, Aug 31 (ANI): During the second day of his Japan tour on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a lunch hosted by Kyoto Buddhist Association in Kyoto. During his speech Modi said that even after so much struggle, Kyoto has developed and maintained its culture. Modi also thanked his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe for specially coming to Kyoto from Tokyo to be with him. Later Modi also met Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa.Aug 31, 2014

Kyoto, Aug 31 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (August 31) visited the cutting edge stem cell research lab in Kyoto University, during the second day of his Japan visit. Modi met head of institute Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, who won the prize for medicine in 2012. Earlier in the morning, Modi had visited an ancient Buddhist temple with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Modi arrived in Japan on Saturday (August 30) seeking to capitalise on his affinity with Abe to strengthen security and business ties on his first major foreign visit since his landslide election victory in May. He will also pay a courtesy visit to Japanese Emperor Akihito on September 02.Aug 31, 2014

New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): NCP leader Tariq Anwar has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan, saying such visits abroad can bring in more investments for the country. Modi is currently on a five-day bilateral visit of Japan. He is being accompanied by a high-level delegation, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.Aug 31, 2014

New Delhi, Aug 31 (ANI): Political leaders on Sunday react'd over Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh's statement that BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi will be the face of the BJP in Bihar in the state assembly polls in 2015.Aug 31, 2014